Fire-extinguishing system.



M. J. WALSH. FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15,1915.

1,169,210. Patented 2151211916.

mam 17/65/111,

WITNESSES.

Arm/my MARTIN J. WALSH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y1

FIRE-EX TINGUISHING SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN J. WALSH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattamcity, county, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-.

Extinguishing Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a fire extinguishing system which contemplates primarily the utilization of sand or other finely divided noncombustible substances to extinguish the fire, the system being automatlcally brought into operation by the presence of excessive heat due to such fire.

It is a well known fact that in the case 0 highly inflammable material the sprinkler devices now in use, wherein water is automatically liberated from pipes supported from the ceiling, the water will frequently aid in spreading and distributing the area of the conflagration, this being particularly true in establishments where chemicals, oils, na htha, gasolene, benzin and other highly ln ammable liquids or chemicals are employed, such as in cleaning and dyeing establishments, garages, laboratories, paintshops, etc. By my present inventionthis vital objection to the water sprinkler systems is overcome and it will be obvious also that by em loying as the extinguishing medium a ely divided noncombustible material, such as sand, the loss through the ruination'of goods, waresand merchandise so frequently incurred through the use of the water sprinkler systems is, in most cases, wholly avoided. I i

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a portion of a room or loft equipped with my invention; Fig. 2 represents a plan view of a section of the grating and the wire mesh upon which thefusible support and the sand or other finely divided noncombustible material are maintained, and Fig. 3 represents a crosssection taken on line 33 of Fig. 2. In these several figures like reference letters represent like parts.

1 represents the ceiling of the loft or room equipped with my system; 2 represents floor beams which are usual to such ceilings and whereby the ceilings aresupported; 3 represents a grating supported from said ceil ing as by supporting rods 7 which at their upper ends are secured to and suspended Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

Application filed March 15, 1915. Serial No. 14,394.

from the floor beams 22, While at their lower ends these rods are in holding engagement with the grating 3 as indicated at 7 E 4 represents a wire mesh, supported upon said grating 3; 5 represents a layer or sheet of fusible material which is super-imposed upon or supported by the wire mesh 4; 6 represents a layer of finely divided noncombustible material, such as sand, which in turn is supported by the said fusible 'material 5, 'in proximity to the ceiling.

For the purpose of illustrating the opera- 7 tion of my invention, it will be assumed that a fire has started in the room or loft illus trated in Fig. 1. Owing to excessive heat rising toward the ceiling the material- 5 which is highly sensitive to heat melts or fuses and the finely divided noncombustible in any desired or convenient manner other than as indicated by way of example in Fig. l of the drawings. It will'further be understood that the layer of finely divided noncombustible material may be supplied in any desirable manner, as for instance by blowing in the sand or by rendering the panels movable to permit of access to adjacent panels, or by suitably spacing the panels apart to permit of access thereto for the purpose of filling in or inspecting the finely divided noncombustible material. Instead of the grating 3 and the wire screen 4, suitably perforated sheets of tin or other mediums of support may be employed to sustain the fusible material and the finely divided noncombustible material in their elevated position and said materials may moreover be maintamed in proximity to the ceiling by means which will fuse under the action of excessive heat, the fusing of said support resulting in liberating said finely divided noncombustible material to permit the same to drop by gravity upon the floor below.

I claim: I

1. A fire extinguishing system comprising a fusible support, finely divided noncombustible material located upon said support,

bustible material maintained in an elevated Y position by said support, whereby the fusing of said support from heat beneath it Will permit said material to drop by gravity.

3. Afire extinguishing system comprising a wire mesh, means for maintaining said wire mesh in an elevated position, a fusible support sustained by said wire mesh, andfinely divided noncombustible material located upon said support.

4. A fire extinguishing system comprising a fusible support, finely divided noncombustible material maintained upon said fusi-- ble support and means for maintaining said support in an elevated position adjacent the ceiling.

5. A "fire extinguishing system comprising a perforated support in an elevated position, a fusible support sustained by said perforated support and finely divided noncombustible material maintained in an elevated position by said perforated and fusible supports.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing 40 witnesses.

MARTIN J. WALSH.

Witnesses EDWARD COSTA, INEZ J. HALLENBECK. 

